"Hello, I was just looking at something you put in rootsweb
about Eliza Pershall. I am not sure where Eliza came from, this
Samuel Pershall died Mar. 7, 1808. Here is the information I
have. Help clear this up if you will.

Samuel Pershall, born around 1759 "a native of Virginia of the
Methodist Religion" died Feb./Mar 1808 Ste. Genevieve Co. Mo.
Son of Joseph Piercel and Elizabeth Wright of Maryland. Samuel
was a miner apparently as well as a farmer as he is listed on
the early payroll records of Moses Austin.

Samuel had a Spanish Land Grant on the Flat River in the
Louisiana Territory (Ste. Genevieve Co. Missouri) which was
confirmed in 1806.

Samuel was married twice. Of the first marriage, to a lady named
"Rosanne__?__, there was one child: Nancy Ann Pershall. Nancy
Ann married a William Montgomery on Jan. 19, 1800. in Ste.
Genevieve Co. Mo. and was divorced by legislative action in
1805.

Samuel married (the 2nd time) to Widow Pricilla Estes at New
Bourbon, Ste. Genevieve Co. Mo. on Mar. 7, 1803. Pricilla was
described as being the daughter of John August and Mary Harris
of Tenn., but she was the daughter of Mary Harris and her first
husband William Estes of Halifax Co. Va. and her name was not
Pricilla, but DRUCILLA. Mary Harris-Estes had 2 sons who
followed them to Missouri. Ezekiel and Patrick (Son John and
Daughters Leana, Levina and Sala remained East).

Samuel and Drucilla's children were:
1. Joseph Pershall who was born in between 1803-1805. and lived
in Illinois.
2. James Pershall born in 1806 and Married Adelaide McFarland
and lived in Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. Died
est. 1880
3. William H. Pershall born 1807-1808, a merchant never married,
died in 1846.
4. Samuel Estes Pershall born 1809 died April 2, 1860. He
married Mary Ann Holmes in 1832, lived and died in Mo.

Re; Land Grant (Board of Commission)
Samuel Piercealle claiming 1049-3/4 arpens of land. See book # 1
pg. 101, book # 3, pg. 133. It is the Samuel Pershall 1759-1810
Opinion of the Board that this claim ought not to be granted.

Samuel Pershall Arrives in Missouri about 1801.

Samuel Pershall From the Early Settlers of Missouri as taken
from Land Claims in Missouri Territory.

"Samuel Pershall, claiming one thousand and forty-nine and
three-quarters arpents of land, situate on Flat River, District
of St. Genevive; produces a plat of survey, dated 18th,
February, 1806.

Testimony taken, December 20, 1806, Ezekiel Estes, duly sworn,
says that the said claimant did, prior to and on the 20th day of
December, 1803, actually inhabit and cultivate the said tract of
land, and had then a wife and two children.

Testimony taken, December 3, 1807, James Cunningham, being duly
sworn, says that, to the best of his recollection, in 1803
claimant built a house, but did not move therein; raised a crop
of potatoes that year; that in the year 1804, the claimant moved
upon the said tract, raised a crop , and has inhabited and
cultivated it ever since, was a single man in 1803.

James Davis, sworn, says that in April, 1803, he passed the
cabin belonging to claimant; he was then residing therein;
raised a crop that year, and has inhabited and cultivated it
ever since, and had then a wife and two children.

February 20, 1806. Present, Lucas and Penrose, commissioners.
The Board grant the above claimant nine hundred and fifty
arpents of land, situate as a fore said, provided so much be
found vacant there.

Samuel was a miner as well as a farmer as he is listed on the
early payroll records of Moses Austin.

Samuel's land grant was divided between Joseph, James, William,
and Samuel Estes and their mother Drucilla, appointed their
guardian. These were the only children she reported to the court
during her guardianship. No where is mentioned Eliza, Sarah, or
John Estes.

In 1846 when Samuel Estes Pershall listed heirs to the estate of
William, he mentions himself and brothers Joseph and James and
"whole bloods" and Sarah Davis, Eliza Andrews and John Estes as
"half bloods". On the final settlement of William's estate in
March 1860 John Estes name was changed to John Pershall.

Drucilla- Drucilla also known as Pricilla Mitchell came to
Missouri from Virginia in 1799-1800.

Drucilla was born in 1775 in Halifax VA. She was married first
to a John Estes her cousin. She had a son by him and his name
was also John Estes. She was listed as a widow when she married
Samuel Pershall, and they had children, and when Samuel died she
married a Robert Chapman. She had two girls by him Drucilla was
born to William I Estes and Mary Harris. William I Estes died in
1780 in VA. Her mother married again to John August, and he was
made guardian of two youngest children Patrick Estes born 1770
and John Estes.

THE CHILDREN:
Nancy Ann Pershall
The daughter of Samuel Pershall and Rosanne. Nancy signed for
her share of her father's estate on June 21, 1810. She legally
divorced her husband William Montgomery.

Sarah Estes-A child of Drucilla's 1st marriage. Sarah is listed
as half blood (sister to James, Joseph and Samuel Estes Pershall
regarding the will of their brother William H. in 1846. Sarah
was not mentioned in the earlier will as Drucilla did not list
guardian ship to any children except the 4 sons regarding the
will of Samuel Pershall. It is theory that Sarah was also born
before Drucillas' second marriage to Samuel Pershall as Sarah is
listed as married in 1811 in Washington Co. Mo.

Joseph Pershall 1803-1889
Joseph also known as "Noah", married twice and had at least 12
children. His family moved first to Illinois, then Idaho,
Oregon, and Washington; some of his descendents are still found
in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Many of his children became ministers. Joseph's descendents
moved to many states. Gold miners in Oregon, Steamship owner in
Washington. Some of his family moved to Alaska (short term).
They moved to OK, ID, IL, and KS.
Joseph and second wife Agnes moved to Washington State (then a
Territory) by the 1870's or early 1880's. They were early day
gold miners and apple growers in Washington.

William Henry Pershall 1804-1846
William never married. He was a merchant and died without a
will. His share of the land was shared with the three remaining
brothers - Samuel Estes Pershall and to some of his
half-brothers.

James Pershall 1806-1880
James sold his quarter portion of his father's land in 1829 to
John Herrod for $100.
James is found in 1829 in Washington County, Attala County
Mississippi in 1850, Holmes County, Mississippi in 1846.

Eliza (Elizabeth) Pershall 1810-1868
William Andrews and Elizabeth Pershall both of St. Francois Co.,
Mo. married on 22 March 1827 by Henry Poston, JP at St. Francois
Co., Mo.
St. Francois Co., Missouri
DEED BOOK A 1819 -1835.
After Samuel died there is a record of one Illegitimate daughter
who carried his name, by Drucilla and someone else, possible her
next husband.

Samuel Estes Pershall 1810-
The youngest son, lived out his life in Missouri. Samuel
homesteaded a farm of 80 acres on the Foruche-Renaulte CreeK in
the Bunker Hill community of Washington County, Missouri. He
engaged in farming, raising stock, building and burning tar
kilns and transporting tar, molasses, oxen and mules to the
South, which netted his income and built up a good home and
farm. The cemetery where he, his wife, Mary Ann, and six of
their children and families are buried are on what was once part
of that farm. It continued to be called the "Pershall Family
Cemetery" for many years until it's rename of the "Old Shirley
Cemetery" as it is call today. It is located below a small hill
by the dam of the lake which is now a YMCA Youth Camp and most
of the grave stones have been destroyed by vandalism.